CLEMSON, S.C. — What a way for No. 1 North Carolina to start the Atlantic Coast Conference season.
Wayne Ellington’s 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in overtime lifted the top-ranked Tar Heels to a 90-88 victory over 19th-ranked Clemson on Sunday night.
Ellington finished with a career-high 36 points, none more dramatic than his pullup jumper from the left side of the key with the clock winding down.
Only moments earlier, Clemson freshman Demontez Stitt had hit two foul shots with 13.9 seconds to go that put the Tigers ahead 88-87.
Instead, Ellington’s basket sent the Tar Heels (15-0) out of Littlejohn Coliseum with their seventh straight win over Clemson — and their top ranking intact.
Ellington scored seven of North Carolina’s nine points in overtime. The sophomore surpassed his career high of 23 set earlier this season in a win over Ohio State.
K.C. Rivers led Clemson (12-2) with 24 points, but failed to score in overtime. Trevor Booker added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Ty Lawson had 16 points and Tyler Hansbrough added 12 for North Carolina.
